Go The Whole Nine Yards At One Of Chennai's Most Iconic Saree Shops

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For gorgeous Kanchipuram and silk weaves, legend has it that almost every Chennaite owns at least one saree from the renowned Nalli Silks. Do you?

What Makes It Awesome

What started as a tiny retail store for silk sarees way back in 1928, ended up becoming one of the pioneers in saree retailing, manufacturing and exporting of fabrics. Nalli is now a treasure trove of gorgeous weaves that cater to women across generations. And they are all over the country too with several stores.

You can drop by many of its outlets sprinkled across Chennai, but one of the biggest and oldest ones is in T Nagar. You can stock up on gorgeous Mysore silks, delicate Chanderi, colourful Maheshwari, simple Kerala Kasavu, elegant Bengal Taant, and more. Try on traditional silks or swish and sway in lightweight versions like chiffons and crepes. If you’re not a fan of traditional drapes or want to buy something more than just sarees, they also have an apparel line for women and ready-to-wear clothes for men. They’ve even ventured into the world of jewellery and modern ethnic wear under the brand Etnische.

But if you’re a saree totting Chennaite be ready to be spoilt for choice — there’s georgette, soft silk, jute and cotton in a variety of prints and colours. We personally love the sea-greens, purples, bright reds and sunny yellows. They have fantastic collections for festive wear and special occasions. Bride to be? And have no idea what to wear and how to go about saree shopping? The staff here is super accommodating, friendly and knowledgeable so don’t worry, you’re in safe hands. They can even custom make your 9-yard saree (if you want to avoid wearing silk) to still make it look grand on your wedding day.

Pro-Tip

Too busy that you can’t make it to their store or just find the process of saree shopping intimidating? Fret not, you can even purchase your sarees on their website and oh, here’s something a little extra. Completely clueless about draping a saree? They even have a tutorial for draping for beginners!